diff --git a/lib/core/playcmds/factory.v b/lib/core/playcmds/factory.v
index 8e1066f8..90b87df6 100644
--- a/lib/core/playcmds/factory.v
+++ b/lib/core/playcmds/factory.v
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import incubaid.herolib.installers.horus.herorunner
 import incubaid.herolib.installers.horus.osirisrunner
 import incubaid.herolib.installers.horus.salrunner
 import incubaid.herolib.installers.virt.podman
+import incubaid.herolib.installers.virt.kubernetes_installer
 import incubaid.herolib.installers.infra.gitea
 import incubaid.herolib.builder
 
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ pub fn run(args_ PlayArgs) ! {
 	herolib.play(mut plbook)!
 	vlang.play(mut plbook)!
 	podman.play(mut plbook)!
+	kubernetes_installer.play(mut plbook)!
 	gitea.play(mut plbook)!
 
 	giteaclient.play(mut plbook)!
diff --git a/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_actions.v b/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_actions.v
index 3854bf28..0f22d3b2 100644
--- a/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_actions.v
+++ b/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_actions.v
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ fn (self &KubernetesInstaller) startupcmd() ![]startupmanager.ZProcessNewArgs {
 
 	res << startupmanager.ZProcessNewArgs{
 		name: 'k3s_${self.name}'
+		startuptype: .systemd
 		cmd:  cmd
 		env:  {
 			'HOME': os.home_dir()
@@ -89,11 +90,10 @@ fn check_ubuntu() ! {
 	}
 
 	// Check /etc/os-release for Ubuntu
-	mut os_release := pathlib.get_file(path: '/etc/os-release') or {
+	content := os.read_file('/etc/os-release') or {
 		return error('Could not read /etc/os-release. Is this Ubuntu?')
 	}
-
-	content := os_release.read()!
+	
 	if !content.contains('Ubuntu') && !content.contains('ubuntu') {
 		return error('This installer requires Ubuntu. Current OS is not Ubuntu.')
 	}
diff --git a/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_factory_.v b/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_factory_.v
index bd0c0d1e..b5b6058e 100644
--- a/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_factory_.v
+++ b/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_factory_.v
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import incubaid.herolib.core.playbook { PlayBook }
 import incubaid.herolib.ui.console
 import json
 import incubaid.herolib.osal.startupmanager
+import incubaid.herolib.osal.core as osal
 import time
 
 __global (
@@ -238,7 +239,12 @@ pub fn (mut self KubernetesInstaller) start() ! {
 		return error('K3s is not installed. Please run install_master, join_master, or install_worker first.')
 	}
 
-	configure()!
+	// Ensure data directory exists
+	osal.dir_ensure(self.data_dir)!
+	
+	// Create manifests directory for auto-apply
+	manifests_dir := '${self.data_dir}/server/manifests'
+	osal.dir_ensure(manifests_dir)!
 
 	for zprocess in self.startupcmd()! {
 		mut sm := startupmanager_get(zprocess.startuptype)!
diff --git a/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_model.v b/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_model.v
index 412bb975..e7d8a181 100644
--- a/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_model.v
+++ b/lib/installers/virt/kubernetes_installer/kubernetes_installer_model.v
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ pub mut:
 // your checking & initialization code if needed
 fn obj_init(mycfg_ KubernetesInstaller) !KubernetesInstaller {
 	mut mycfg := mycfg_
-
+	
 	// Set default data directory if not provided
 	if mycfg.data_dir == '' {
 		mycfg.data_dir = os.join_path(os.home_dir(), 'hero/var/k3s')
@@ -60,10 +60,8 @@ fn obj_init(mycfg_ KubernetesInstaller) !KubernetesInstaller {
 		mycfg.token = rand.hex(32)
 	}
 
-	// Validate: join operations require token and master_url
-	if !mycfg.is_first_master && (mycfg.token == '' || mycfg.master_url == '') {
-		return error('Joining a cluster requires both token and master_url to be set')
-	}
+	// Note: Validation of token/master_url is done in the specific action functions
+	// (join_master, install_worker) where the context is clear
 
 	return mycfg
 }